Fourth Grader Helps Homeless Women With Purse Care Packages

Charity is something that most of us aspire towards, but few actually achieve. In fact, the famous author Leo Tolstoy said that "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." There's a lot of truth to those words. In one sense, the author is saying that if we want people to behave better, then we ought to start behaving better ourselves. This could also be interpreted as the need for people to take action and help those around them instead of waiting for others to do it for them.

D.J. Flores, a fourth-grade student in Fort Worth, Texas, has taken Mr. Tolstoy's words to heart. With the help of his mom, D.J. has started delivering care packs to homeless women in his community. These packs, which D.J. calls "Love in Packs," are repurposed purses that he's filled with supplies that help the homeless during cold winter months. Many of us wait until we're older, with a stable income and sense of community, before donating to local charities. D.J., on the other hand, wasted no time making a positive impact on those living in less-than-favorable conditions.

Apparently, women are the fastest growing demographic among the homeless, with 60% ending up that way because they were victims of domestic violence. Upon receiving a "Love in Packs" from D.J., one woman responded by saying, "It makes me feel good that a little kid knows that something bad is going on and he wants to try his best to help out." If you would like to learn what to include in your own homeless care packs, the Portland Rescue Mission has some great tips. After all, it's never too early to start changing the world, even if it's just one purse at a time.